Last week we began a journey into the world of color.  We started with the color green, and shared some unique images of different shades and styles of the same color.

This week, we’re going to move on to the color blue.  Blue is both beautiful and tricky.  It can be very serene and comforting, and it can also be cold.  Cool colors work well in warm areas, but in areas where it is cold, snowy and white for a good portion of the year, blue can often seem cold and stark.  That doesn’t mean that it can’t work though!  We just have to be a little bit more careful in the mountains in how we incorporate blue into our design.  There are a few different tricks for incorporating different styles of blue into cold-weather design, and they can make any blue room warm and inviting.

First, blue occurs in nature all the time.  Since we live in the mountains, using local, natural blues can help keep a more comfortable feel year round.

Image via Dickesian Dandy

Image via Tumblr

Image via Colors of Life

Image via Grace & Guts

Image via Write on the Sand

Next, using only a POP of a bright blue here and there can be much more effective than painting walls blue, or using the color in large areas.  A small pop actually provides a fun and bold aspect, rather than an overall cold feeling.

Image via Pinterest

Image via Backroad Life

Image via Peace

Finally, incorporating blue with other warm colors is the best way to keep warm in the cold months.  Rather than using blue and white, try blue and cream, blue and ivory, or blue and almost any other warm color (we have a lot of Broncos fans around here who are proud supporters of blue and orange, but we don’t necessarily suggest that in your home color scheme!)

At Home on the Range, we are detail people.  While we know that the “big picture” is important, we also know that it is the tiny details that actually make up the big picture.  We try to focus on every tiny thing in the space, including fixtures, finishes, trim, flooring, furniture, fabric, leather, accessories, materials, etc, because we know that each one of these things contributes to the overall feel of the room, and if the details don’t work together, then the “big picture” is flawed.  Little things that seem insignificant, like sinks, light fixtures, and hardware, can make or break your space.  We love creating rustic, western, and mountain designs, and farmhouse and trough sinks are great additions to these themes.  Today I want to show you some great examples of some sinks that don’t detract from or neutralize their spaces, but instead contribute a huge style element that would otherwise be overlooked.

Just for fun, we’ll start out with the most traditional farmhouse sink.  The deep bucket with an apron across the front is what characterizes a farmhouse sink, though these days there are so many creative variations on the original!

Image via Remodelista

Here’s a great example of a “creative variation” on a farmhouse sink.  You can still see the deep bucket and “front apron”, but I love how they used galvanized tubs instead of a single porcelain sink.  What a fun look!

Image via Livin’ Easy

This is a bathroom version of a traditional farmhouse sink.  They did a great job of incorporating the apron into the vanity, and the contrasting colors of the vanity, sink and mirror look beautiful together.

Image via Cabinspiration

Here’s another unusual sink- I don’t know if it could really be called a farmhouse sink or not, but I’m still including it in this post because I love it and I think it has the same feel!  Again the use of galvanized metal transports you to a farm or ranch bathroom, and the rivets on the sides add a great visual element too!

Image via Givonehome

For more fun and creative design elements, follow us on Pinterest!  You can also like us on Facebook to have daily design inspiration delivered straight to your wall!  Stay tuned for our next post, which will talk about trough sinks, which are another kind of sink that we love to use!